Tip of the Week: Attack Your Opponent's Second Serve

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By Steve Annacone
When someone misses their first serve, they absolutely have to get the second serve in the box. Because of this, even good tennis players can become tentative on their second serve. Try standing two or three steps inside of your first serve returning position prior to the opponent's second serve...Read more

Tip of the Week: Adjust Your Position to Control the Baseline

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By Steve Annacone
One of the biggest reasons Roger Federer is able to challenge for Grand Slams and remain one of the best players in the world at 37-years-old is because he uses his position on the tennis court to control the point. Although he sometimes gets pushed back when his opponent hits a deep offensive ball...Read more

Tip of the Week: Get In a Position to Win and Then Do It Again

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By Steve Annacone
I hear a lot of players talk about closing out matches. In order to close out a match, you must put yourself in a position to win . This means getting a break point, game point, set point, or match point. However, getting one opportunity that you believe is the difference between winning and losing...Read more

Tip of the Week: Hitting Shots on the Run

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By Steve Annacone
One of the most common strategies in tennis is to get your opponent running. The reason this is so popular is that most players are unable to hit the ball as well when they have to move a lot to hit their shot. The key to hitting the ball well on the run is giving yourself a chance to take the same...Read more

Tip of the Week: Pick a Spot on the Ball For Direction

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By Steve Annacone
There are many different ways to get your shot to go where you want it to go on the tennis court. The position that you set up in is the most reliable. This will make you swing in the direction of your target. However, the best players use the contact point on the ball to help get the direction...Read more

Tip of the Week: Make Sure Each Shot You Hit Has a Purpose

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By Steve Annacone
Every time you hit the ball on the tennis court, you should have a purpose for your shot. There are obviously times when your opponent has hit a very good shot and your options are limited. Even in this situation you can try to keep the ball deep, or low, or try to get it to the opponent's weaker...Read more

Tip of the Week: How to Compete

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By Steve Annacone
Playing tennis can be extremely difficult. There are many different variables involved when trying to win the match. The ability to compete is often overlooked when analyzing a player's performance on the court. Competing is the ability to do some things during the match to give yourself a chance...Read more

Tip of the Week: Timing the Split Step

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By Steve Annacone
Tennis players use the split step to establish balance before reacting to the opponent's shot. Both feet come off the ground and then hit the ground simultaneously. In the past, I instructed my students to do this right as the player is hitting the ball. However, the game has gotten faster and...Read more

Tip of the Week: Use the Body Serve to Disrupt a Good Returner

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By Steve Annacone
Over the years, I’ve found that one of the most difficult ideas to communicate to my students has been the benefit of serving directly at your opponent. Most good returners react extremely well when the serve is hit away from them. They are ready to turn, move and stretch for the serve. By hitting...Read more

Tip of the Week: How to Get the Point Started Well

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By Steve Annacone
It is becoming more and more obvious that starting the point well in a match is really the key to controlling more of the points and hopefully, winning the match. Tennis has changed, with more players than ever capable of playing both offense and defense well. However, the best players still...Read more

Tip of the Week: My Most Simple Strategy

This idea is going to sound obvious, but tennis is supposed to be basic.
By Steve Annacone
This idea is going to sound obvious, but tennis is supposed to be basic. If you are serving, focus on getting the first serve in, then hitting a shot or two (usually crosscourt) to get the opponent moving, and then figure out a way to win the point. When returning serve, get the return in play, hit...Read more

Tip of the Week: Always Expect the Ball to Come Back

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By Steve Annacone
It is human nature to hope that the shot you have just hit will win the point. Unfortunately, this type of thought during a match will not allow you to recover, prepare, and react if the shot does come back. One of the unique qualities of the best tennis players in the world is their ability to...Read more
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